Water crisis worsens: Water boards reveal worrying municipal debt and infrastructure collapse

AfriForum reiterates its call for urgent structural reform in the water sector, including improved oversight, transparent reporting, accountability mechanisms for failing municipalities, and community-driven interventions to reduce water losses and maintain infrastructure. This follows the latest corporate plan presentations by Amatola Water, Rand Water and Vaal Central Water that paint a worrying picture of water security in South Africa.

The documents confirm what communities experience daily: South Africa’s water security is being destroyed by municipal collapse, financial mismanagement and infrastructure that is not properly maintained.

The three presentations reveal more than R20 billion in outstanding municipal debt, with Vaal Central Water alone owed R10.17 billion, much of it by Matjhabeng Local Municipality, where the 12-month recovery rate is a catastrophic 22%. Amatola Water remains financially distressed due to long-standing non-payment by the Amathole District Municipality, while Rand Water is forced to carry billions in arrears from Gauteng municipalities including Emfuleni, Merafong, and Rand West.

These financial failures directly translate into failing infrastructure. Amatola Water reports water losses of over 16%, Vaal Central Water loses 20% of its water, and both entities highlight extensive backlogs in pipeline replacement, pump refurbishment, and treatment works rehabilitation. Rand Water, while financially stable and operationally competent, warns that municipal failures, illegal connections, vandalism, and encroachment are placing growing pressure on the regional system that supplies more than 16 million people.

It is clear that South Africa’s water boards cannot function when municipalities refuse to pay for the bulk water they receive. Debt relief schemes and payment arrangements are failing, and some municipalities have even declined to participate. Continued non-payment will ultimately interrupt bulk supply in multiple provinces.

“The numbers are shocking, but the real scandal is that nothing changes. Municipalities owe more than R20 billion to water boards, yet continue to waste clean water, ignore collapsing infrastructure, and then blame everyone else for shortages. AfriForum will not keep quiet while this failure endangers millions,” says Lambert de Klerk, manager for Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.

AfriForum reiterates its call for urgent structural reform in the water sector, including enhanced oversight, the use of Special Purpose Vehicles, transparent reporting, accountability mechanisms for failing municipalities, and community-driven interventions to reduce losses and maintain infrastructure.

AfriForum will continue to monitor developments and engage at all levels to defend the right of every South African to safe, reliable water.